Electrical alarm for telephone call-bells.



No. 774,659. PATBNTED NOV. 1, 1904. J. w. FOUOHB. ELECTRICAL ALARM EOETELEPHONE CALL EELLs.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1904. N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEETL No. 774,059.PATENTED NOV. 1, 1904.

J. W. FOUGHE. ELECTRICAL ALARM FOR TELEPHONE CALL BELLS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 2, 1904.

N0 MODEL. 2SHBETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented November 1, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. FOUCHE, OF RYAN, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF TVVO-THIRDS TO HUGH B.HUTCHISON AND CLARENCE A. HUTCHISON, OF HERNDON,

VIRGINIA.

ELECTRICAL ALARM FO R TELEPHONE CALL-BELLS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,059, dated November1, 1904.

Application filed May 2, 1904. Serial No. 206,000. (No model.)

reliable device for sounding an alarm or alarms at a distant point fromthe telephonestation, whereby a person not within hearing distance ofthe usual magnetic call-bell will be notified when the call is sounded.

The invention further aims to provide an auxiliary electric alarm orwhat may be termed an extension call system for telephones which shallbe simple in construction,

durable, efficient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to set up.

With the foregoing and other objects in View the invention consists ofthe novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinaf ter morespecifically described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings,

forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference charactersdenote correspondmg parts throughout the several views, and in which-Figure 1 is a front elevation of the circuitclosing device constructedin accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional side elevation.Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view showing the arrangement of acircuit-closer in connection with the circuit-wires of the auxiliarysystem as well as the alarm, and Fig. 4: is a diagrammatic viewshowing'the device em ployed in connection with a direct call by anoperator at a telephone-exchange or at any private telephone.

Referring ,to the drawings by reference characters, 1 denotes theordinary call-box, provided with a pair of bells, (indicated by thereference character 2,) and 3 denotes the vibrating hammer for the bells2.

The foregoing elements are of known construction, and any form ofcall-box can be employed, whether the bells be operated by analternating current or a direct current. The auxiliary electric alarmdevice forming the subject-matter of this invention can be employed inconnection with an alternating or a direct current.

Secured t0 the box 1 through the medium of the holdfast devices 4: is acasing 5, constructed of any suitable material and insulated in such amanner so as not to interfere with the proper working of thecircuit-closer. The insulating material may be of any character ordescription. To one side of the casing 5 is suitably secured abinding-post 6, and to the top of the casing 5 are suitably secured thebinding-posts 7 8, and to the other side of the casing 5 is suitablysecured a bindingpost 9, carrying a switch 10.

Secured to the inner face of the back of the casing 5 is a plurality ofadjustable contactspring-supporting plates and which are indicated bythe reference characters 11, 12, and 13. The plates 11, 12, and 13 areconstructed of any suitable metallic material and are connected at theirtops to the back of the casing 5 through the medium of thebinding-screws 1 1, and at their lower ends the plates 11, 12, and 13are slotted, as at 15, and extending through the slots 15 and engagingin the back of the casing 5 are the adjusting-screws 16.

Secured to the front face of each of the plates 11, 12, and 13 is aconnecting-bracket l7, and to the bracket 17 of the plate 11 is attachedone end of an inverted-V-shaped contact-spring 18, and the free end ofsaid spring 18 is bent at an angle to form a contact-point 19, andpreferably the contactpoint 19 is formed of platinum, andjto the bracket17 of the plate 13 is attached one end of an inverted- V-shapedcontact-spring 20, and the free end of said spring 20 is bent at anangle to form a contact-point, as at 21, and preferably'thecontact-point 21 is formed of platinum. To the bracket 17 of the plate12 is secured a pair of inverted -\I-shaped contact-springs, (designatedby the reference characters 22 23,) and the free end of the spring 22 isbent at right angles, soas to form a contact-point 24, and the free endof the spring 23 is bent at right angles, so as to form a contact-point25. Preferably the contact-points 24 and 25 are constructed of platinum.The contact-spring 22 opposes the spring 18 and the contactspring 23opposes the spring 20.

The plate 11 is connected to the plate 13 through the medium of aninsulated wire connection 26. The plate 11 is also connected with thebinding-posts 7 through the medium of the wire connection 27, and theplate 12 is connected to the binding-post 8 through the medium of thewire connection 28.

Operating between the contact-springs 18 and 22 is a circuit-closing arm29, and operating between the contact-springs 20 and 23 is acircuit-closing arm 30. The arms 29 and 30 are adapted to besimultaneously vibrated and when operated alternately engage a pair ofsprings. For example, when moved in one direction the arms 29 and 30will contact with the springs 20 and 22 and when moved in the otherdirection will contact with the springs 18 and 23 to close the circuit.The springs 18, 20, 22, and 23 are adjusted with respect to each other,so that the proper engagementbetween the arms 29 and 30 can be had, andsaid adjustment is made by adjusting the plates 11, 12, and 13, owing tothe screw-andslot connection between said plates and the back of thecasing 5.

The arms 29 and 30 are operated through the medium of a vibratoryoperating-lever 31, which is constructed of insulating material andfulcrumed upon the pivot 32, supported by the bearing-studs 33, carriedby the crossarms 34, attached to the standards 35. The lever 31 at itslower end is provided with a bifurcated extension 36, through whichextends the shank 37 of the hammer 3. It will be evident that when thehammer is operated a vibratory motion will be imparted to the lever 32,which in turn will operate the arms 29 and 30.

The arms 29 and 30 are connected at their bottoms to the upper end ofthe lever 32 by means of the binding-screws 38. The arms 29 and 30 areconstructed of any suitable metallic material, and said arm 29 isconnected with the binding-post 6 through the medium of the wireconnection 39, and said arm 30 is connected with the contact-point ofthe switch 10 through the medium of a wire connection 40.

The reference character 41 denotes theauxiliary call-box, which isarranged at a point removed from the call-box 1, and said callbox 41 isof any suitable construction and provided with any suitable character ofbells or gongs 42. The call-box 41 is connected with the switch 10through the medium of the circuit-wire 43 and is connected with thebinding-post 6 through the medium of the circuitwire 44. The referencecharacter 45 denotes the battery or electrical supply and is connectedthrough the circuit-wire 46 with the binding-post 8 and by thecircuit-wire 47 with the binding-post 7.

It is thought the operation of the device can be understood from theforegoing description; but it will be stated that when used inconnection with an alternating current when the arms 29 and 30 are movedto contact first with the springs 20 and 22 the circuit will be throughthe spring 20, arm 30, wire connection 40, circuit-wire 43 to theauxiliarycall-box, from the box 41 over circuit-wire 44, arm 29, spring22 to the battery. When thearms 29 and 30 are moved in the oppositedirection. the circuit will be through spring 18, arm 29, circuit-wire44 to the call-box 41, circuit-wire normal position of the contact-arms29 and 30 is that the arm 29 rests against the contact-spring 18 and thearm 30 rests against contact-spring 20. Such arrangement keeps thecircuit open and prevents the batteries from running down when thedevice is not in operation.

The device, as shown in Fig. 1, it is evident, embodies all theprinciples of a pole-changer and when used in connection with adirect-current source acts as a pole-changer. The device, as shown inFig. 1, can also be employed in connection with a direct call by anoperator at a telephone-exchange or at any private telephone, asillustrated in Fig. 4, and such function is obtained by theinterposition of any suitable circuit-breaker 48, and in this connectionthe device, as shown in Fig. 1, acts as a pole-changer, and the call canbe made by any suitable contact device for closing the circuitforexample, push-buttons 49. In other words, by the connecting of thedevice shown in Fig. 1 with any ordinary circuitbreaker it can be usedas a pole-changer for operating telephone-calls with an alternatingcurrent.

It is thought unnecessary to specifically describe the manner ofinsulating the various parts from each other, as well as the casing 5,for the reason that any known method of proper insulating, as well asany known material, may be employed.

The casing 5 is provided with a cover of any suitable material andattached thereto in any suitable manner. The casing 5 may be of anysuitable shape or contour and may be attached in position in any mannerdescribed. The switch 10 is employed for cutting 011" the auxiliary callsystem when occasion requires. The auxiliary system is such that it canbe attached to any known telephone system without changing theconstruction of said telephone system in any manner. All that is 43, arm30, spring 23, and to the battery. The

necessary to do is to arrange the bifurcated extension of theoperating-lever with respect to the hammer or shank of the hammer of thecall-bell, so that when the hammer or shank is operated the levercarrying the contactarms 29 and 30 will be vibrated or oscillated. Thebinding-posts 6, 7, 8, and 9 are shown as attached to the sides of thecasing 5; but it is evident that any other suitable arrangement can beemployed. Any known construction of call-box for the auxiliary callsystem can be employed. The elements arranged within the casing 5 as anentirety will be referred to in the claims as a pole-changer.

It is thought that many advantages of my improved electrical alarm fortelephone callbells forsounding an alarm at adistant point from thetelephone-station and also whereby a person not within hearing distanceof the telephone call-bell will be notified when the call is sounded canbe readily understood from the foregoing description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings,-and it will furthermore beevident that changes, variations, and modifications can be resorted towithout departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing any ofits advantages, and I therefore do not wish to restrict myself to thedetails of construction hereinbefore described, and set forth in theannexed drawings, but reserve the right to make such changes,variations, and modifications as come properly within the scope of theprotection prayed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An auxiliary electric alarm for telephonecalls comprising two pairsof contacts, a vibratory arm cooperating with each pair of contacts, analarm, electrical connections between one of said arms and said alarm,electrical connections between the other of said arms and said alarm, asource of electrical energy, electrical connections between one pair ofcontacts and said source, and electrical con nections between the otherpair of contacts and said source.

2. An auxiliary electric alarm for telephon ecalls comprising two pairsof contacts, a vibratory arm cooperating with each pair of contacts, analarm, electrical connections between one of said arms and said alarm,electrical connections between the other of said arms and said alarm, asource of electrical energy, electrical connections between one pair ofcontacts and said source, electrical connections between the other pairof contacts and said source, and a cut-out for one of the connectionsbetween one of the arms and said alarm.

3. The combination with a main telephonecall, of an auxiliaryelectric-alarm system connected therewith, said system comprising twopairs of contact-springs, a pair of vibratory circuit-closing armsadapted to alternately engage with each pair of contact-springs, asource of electrical energy connected with said springs, an alarmelectrically connected with said arms, and means connected with saidarms and operated by the telephone-call for vibrating the said arms,causing thereby the contact ofthe arms with the springs to close thecircuit and operate the alarm.

4. An auxiliary electric alarm for telephonecalls, comprising acircuit-closer consisting of two pairs of inverted V shapedcontactsprings, vibratory circuit-closing arms cooperating with saidsprings, a vibratory arm for each pair of springs, combined with anelectrical alarm suitably connected with said arms, and a source ofelectrical energy suitably connected with said springs.

5. An auxiliary electric alarm for telephonecalls comprising two pairsof contacts, adjustable supporting-plates for said contacts, a vibratoryarm cooperating with each pair of contacts, an alarm, electricalconnections between one of said arms and said alarm, electricalconnections between the other of said arms and said alarm, a source ofelectrical energy, electrical connections between one pair of contactsand said source, and electrical connections between the other pair ofsaid contacts and said source. I

6. An auxiliary electrical alarm for telephone-calls comprising twopairs of contacts, adjustable supporting-plates for said contacts, avibratory arm cooperating with each pair of contacts, an alarm,electrical connections between one of said arms and said alarm,electrical connections between the other of said arms and said alarm,'asource of electrical energy,electrical connections between one pair ofcontacts and said source of electrical energy, electrical connectionsbetween the other pair of said contacts and said source, and a cut-outfor one of the connections between one of said arms and said alarm.

7 An auxiliary electrical alarm for telephone-calls comprising a pair ofsupporting plates, means for electrically connecting said platestogether and with a source of electrical energy,asupporting-plateinterposed between said pair of plates, means for connecting saidinterposed plate with said source of electrical energy, a contact-springcarried by each of said plates of said pair of plates, a pair ofcontact-springs carried by said interposed plate, a vibratorycircuit-closing arm cooperating with one opposing pair of springs, avibratory circuit-closing arm cooperating with the other opposing pairof springs, an alarm, and means for electrically connecting each of saidarms with said alarm.

8. An auxiliary electrical alarm for telephone-calls comprising a pairof adjustable supporting-plates, means for electrically connecting saidplates together and with a source of electrical energy, an adjustablesupportingplate interposed between said pair of plates,

means for connecting said interposed plate with said source ofelectrical energy, a contact-spring carried by each of said plates ofsaid pair of plates, a pair of contact-springs carried by saidinterposed plate, a vibratory circuit-closing arm cooperating with oneopposing pair of springs, a vibratory circuitclosing arm cooperatingwith the other opposing pair of springs, an alarm, and means forelectrically connecting each of said arms with said alarm.

9. An auxiliary electrical alarm for telephone-calls comprising a pairof supportingplates, means for electrically connecting said platestogether and with a source of electrical energy, asupporting-plateinterposed between said pair of plates, means forconnecting said interposed plate with said source of electrical energy,a contact-spring carried by each of said plates of said pair of plates,a pair of contact-springs carried by said interposed plate, a vibratoryeircuit-closing arm cooperating with one opposing pair of springs, avibratory circuit-closing arm cooperating with the other opposing pairof springs, an alarm, means for electrically connecting each of saidarms with said alarm, and a cut-out for said connecting means betweenthe arms and alarm.

10. An auxiliary electrical alarm for telephone-calls comprising a pairof adjustable supporting-plates, means for electrically connecting saidplates together and with asource of electrical energy, an adjustablesupportingplate interposed between said pair of plates, means forconnecting said interposed plate with said source of electrical energy,a contact-spring carried by each of said plates of said pair of plates,a pair of contact-springs carried by said interposed plate, a vibratorycircuit-closing arm cooperating with one opposing pairof springs, avibratory circuitclosing arm cooperating with the other opposing pair ofsprings, an alarm, means for electrically connecting each of said armswith said alarm, and a cut-out for said connecting means between one ofsaid arms and alarm.

11. An auxiliary electric alarm for telephone-calls comprising a pair ofsupportingplates, means for electrically connecting said plates togetherand with a source of electrical energy, asupporting-plate interposedbetween said pair of plates, means for connecting said interposed platewith said source of electrical energy, an inverted-V-shapedcontact-spring carried by each of said plates of said pair of plates,each of said contact-springs having a free end, a pair ofinverted-V-shaped contact-springs carried by said interposed plate, saidsprings carried by said interposed plate having one end free,avibratorycircuit closing arm cooperating with the free end of oneopposing pair of springs, a vibratory circuit-closing arm cooperatingwith the free end of the other opposing pair of springs, an

alarm, and means for connecting each of said arms with said alarm.

12. An auxiliary electric alarm for telephone-calls comprising a pair ofadjustable supporting-plates, means for electrically connecting saidplates together and with a source of electrical energy, an adjustablesupportingplate interposed. between said pair of plates, means forconnecting said interposed plate with said source of electrical energy,an inverted-V-shaped contact-spring carried by each of said plates ofsaid pair of plates, each of said contact-springs having a free end,apair of inverted-V-shaped contact-springs carried by said interposedplate, said springs carried by said interposed plate having one endfree, a vibratory circuit-closing arm cooperating with the free end ofone opposing pair of springs, a vibratory circuit-closing armcooperating with the free end of the other opposing pair of springs, analarm, and means for connecting each of said arms with said alarm.

13. An auxiliary electric alarm for telephone-calls comprising two pairsof inverted- V-shaped contact-sprin gs, each of said springs having afree end, a vibratory arm cooperating with the free end of each pair ofcontacts, a lever secured to said arms and adapted when operated tovibrate said arms, an alarm, electrical connections between one of saidarms and said alarm, electrical connections between the other of saidarms and said alarm, a source of electrical energy, electricalconnections between one pair of contacts and said source, and electricalconnections between the other pairof contacts and said source.

14. The combination with a telephone-call, of an auxiliary alarm-circuithaving its alarm operated by an alternating current, said auxiliaryalarm-circuit being independent of said call and its circuit, and anautomatic polechanger suitably connected with said auxiliary circuit,separated from said call and adapted to be actuated when the call isoperated, thereby closing said auxiliary alarm-circuit to sou nd thealarm thereof.

15. In an electrical call, a pole-changer comprising a pair ofsupporting-plates, a contactspring carried by each of said plates, asupporting-plate interposed between said pair of plates, a pair ofcontact-springs carried by said interposed plate, and a pair ofvibratory contact-arms cooperating with said springs.

16. 1n an electrical call, a pole-changer comprising a pair ofadjustable supporting-plates, a contact-spring carried by each of saidplates, an adjustable supporting-plate interposed between said pair ofplates, a pair of contactsprings carried by said interposed plate, and apair of vibratory contact-arms cooperating with said springs.

17. In an electrical call, a pole-changer comprising a pair ofsupporting-plates, a \I-shaped IIO TIS

contact-spring having one end free and carried by each of said plates, asupporting-plate interposed between said pair of plates, a pair ofV-shaped contact-springs having one end free and carried by saidinterposed plate, and a pair of vibratory contact-arms cooperating withsaid springs.

18. In an electrical call. apole-changer comprising a pair of adjustablesupporting-plates, a V-shaped contact-spring having one end free andcarried by each of said plates, an adjustable supporting-plateinterposed between said pair of plates, a pair of V-shapedcontactsprings having one end free and carried by said interposed plate,and a pair of vibratory contact-arms cooperating with said springs.

19. In an electrical call, a pole-changer comprising a pair ofsupporting-plates, an inverted-V-shaped contact-spring having one endfree and carried by each of said plates, asupporting-plate interposedbetween said pair of plates, a pair of inverted-V-shaped contactspringshaving one end free and carried by said interposed plate, and a pair ofvibratory contact-arms cooperating with said springs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto. set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. FOUCHE. Witnesses:

E. L, RoBEY, F. A. ROBEY.

